Recipe: Classic Tomato Sauce with a Twist

The only difference here from a traditional tomato sauce is a stick of cinnamon. I found that this spice nicely complements my recipe for turkey meatballs. Feel free to omit it if you're not a cinnamonophile.

Gently saute the onion and garlic in olive oil until translucent. Add the rest of the ingredients, up to and including the salt and pepper, and simmer gently for 30 minutes, or until the sauce has reduced to a desired consistency.

Remove the cinnamon stick, add butter, and stir until melted. Taste and adjust for seasoning: more salt and pepper, and a few tablespoons of balsamic vinegar go a long way. Add Parmesan cheese, and stir until melted.

To read a story about how Sophie Brickman created this sauce to compliment her healthy turkey meatballs, click here.